The easy chatter continued for a while, topics drifting like smoke in the warm air, during which Su Mu also informed Yang Shi about what had happened in the evening, and she had to stay at Xu Er's house for tonight.

At first they were worried but after knowing the full story, they relaxed and let her stay at Xu Er's place, not insisting her to come back.

After talking to both Ye Fan and Yang Shi for a few minutes, Su Mu found herself leaning in a little more when Xu Er spoke, her arm now resting along the back of the sofa, not quite touching Xu Er but very near.

Xu'er refilled their wine glasses. She watched the way the lamplight caught the curve of Xu'er's cheekbone, the slight sheen on her lips from the wine. 

Every little detail about Xu'er seemed magnified, fascinating.

"You know, Missy," Xu Er said, turning to face her more directly, her knee brushing against Su Mu's. 

The contact, casual as it was, sent a jolt straight to Su Mu's core. 

"For someone who seemed a little… shy… in the shop earlier, you have a lot of surprises."

Su Mu felt a blush warm her cheeks but met Xu'er's gaze. "Maybe you just bring them out of me."

Xu'er's smile was slow, a knowing curve of her lips. 

"I'd like to think so." She reached out, her fingers lightly tracing the line of Su Mu's jaw. "There's something different about you, Missy. I felt it… the way you reacted to my touch…"

"Or the way you respond back, it all feels new, compared to all the other women I've been with."

Xu Er's touch was gentle, yet it ignited sparks wherever it landed. 

Su Mu leaned into the caress as she listened, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. 

The scent of Xu'er – her skin, her hair, the faint, sweet perfume mixed with the wine on her breath – was intoxicating.

However, when she heard what Xu Er said, she suddenly felt her heart stop beating for a second…

"Xu'er..." Su Mu whispered, her name a soft sigh as she tried to speak, but stopped midway, as she couldn't explain further about her being a man in her last life… and transmigrated to Blue Star.

"…." As the conversation continued, the unspoken whisper became louder than any words they could have shared. 

The air in the room felt thick with it, a palpable tension that was both exciting and deeply comforting. 

Xu'er's hand moved from Su Mu's jaw, her thumb brushing lightly over Su Mu's lips, the same lips that had tasted Xu'er so intimately not long ago.

"I think," Xu'er murmured, her voice dropping to a husky whisper, her eyes locked on Su Mu's mouth, "my assessment of your recovery is due." 

Her gaze flickered down, then back up to meet Su Mu's eyes, a clear invitation gleaming within their dark depths. 

"And I have a feeling you passed with flying colors. But I'm very thorough. I might need to conduct a few more... practical tests."

Su Mu's breath hitched. 

She could feel the heat rising in her, the anticipation coiling tight in her belly, the bustier beneath her top suddenly feeling wonderfully constricting. 

"Is that so?" she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Mmmhmm," Xu'er confirmed, leaning closer, her other hand coming to rest on Su Mu's waist, fingers splaying possessively over the soft knit of her top, right above where the lace of the bustier lay hidden. 

"And I was thinking… the bedroom might be a more… suitable place for this kind of advanced study."

Before Su Mu could even reply, Xu'er closed the small remaining distance between them, sitting intimately onto Su Mu's lap, her lips capturing Su Mu's in a deep kiss.

Slow and deep at first, then quickly escalating, full of the pent-up desire that had been simmering between them. 

Su Mu melted into it, her arms instinctively going around Xu'er's neck, pulling her closer and closer to her.

The moment Xu'er's lips touched hers, Su Mu felt like she was dissolving, all tension and thought melting away into pure sensation. 

Her arms went up, naturally, instinctively, wrapping around Xu'er's neck, her fingers tangling in the soft hair at Xu'er's nape. 

She pulled Xu'er closer, needing to feel the full length of her body pressed against her own, even with Xu'er already settled intimately on her lap.

Both of them closed their eyes, shutting out the lamplit room, creating a private world just for the two of them. 

Su Mu tilted her head back just a little, finding a more comfortable angle, a silent invitation for Xu'er to deepen the kiss even further, which Xu'er eagerly accepted.

This kiss was nothing like the urgent, almost frantic ones they'd shared in the bathroom, or the teasing ones from before. 

This was a long, slow burn, deeper and more consuming than anything before. 

It spoke of a hunger that had only been temporarily quieted, now roaring back to life. 

Their tongues met, then began a dance of… swirling, exploring, melting together in a way that felt both incredibly new and anciently familiar. 

One moment Xu'er's tongue would slip into Su Mu's mouth, a bold, sweet invasion, and the next, Su Mu would find herself doing the same, tasting Xu'er, tasting the wine, tasting a future that felt both thrilling and a little bit scary. 

It was a give and take, a push and pull, a continuous, intoxicating rhythm of entry and retreat that left Su Mu breathless even as she craved more.

Time seemed to stretch and warp. 

All that existed was the pressure of Xu'er's body on hers, the softness of her lips, the incredible sensation of their tongues intertwined.

Showing their affection for each other…

Finally, after what felt like an eternity but was probably only a few minutes, they slowly drew apart, their lips still brushing, reluctant to fully break the connection. 

They both took long, deep breaths, their chests rising and falling in unison. Su Mu's eyes fluttered open to see Xu'er looking at her, her own eyes dark and heavy-lidded with desire, her lips slightly swollen and glistening.

A small, shaky smile touched Su Mu's lips. 

"Wow," she breathed, the word barely audible.

Xu'er chuckled, a low, husky sound that vibrated through Su Mu. 

"Wow indeed, Missy." She leaned her forehead against Su Mu's for a moment. 

"My... advanced study materials... are definitely in the bedroom." 

Her voice was a soft murmur, full of suggestion. "And I think it's time we change to a little bit more comfortable place."

However, Su Mu, who was holding the almost weightless Xu'er in her lap, felt a deep reluctance to let go of her grasp. 

The thought of breaking this perfect, intoxicating closeness, even for the promise of the bedroom, felt like a loss. 

Her hands, which had been resting lightly on Xu'er's waist and back, began to tighten around her, pulling Xu'er even closer, if that was possible. 

She didn't want to miss such a wonderful opportunity, with Xu'er so warm and pliant in her lap, their bodies aligned in this blissful way.

"Wait," Su Mu whispered, her voice a little shaky. 

Before Xu'er could fully process the word, Su Mu leaned in again, capturing Xu'er's lips once more. 

This kiss was different again, not the slow burn of discovery, nor the urgent claiming from before. 

This was a kiss of pure indulgence, a lingering exploration. 

Su Mu wanted to memorize the taste of Xu'er, the feel of her lips, the soft sighs that escaped her.

Her fingers threaded deeper into Xu'er's hair, cradling her head, while her other hand slid down Xu'er's spine, feeling the delicate curve, the warmth of her skin beneath the thin fabric of her top. 

Each touch was deliberate, a silent plea to stay, to savor this moment a little longer. 

She could feel Xu'er respond instantly, her body melting further against Su Mu's, her own arms tightening around Su Mu's neck.

"Ahaa…" Their breathing grew heavy again, a shared rhythm in the quiet room, punctuated by soft moans and the gentle friction of their bodies moving together. 

Su Mu tilted her head, changing the angle of the kiss, her tongue seeking Xu'er's in a slow, delicious dance.

She could feel the rapid beat of Xu'er's heart against her own chest, a frantic drumming that echoed her own excitement.

Xu'er's hands weren't idle either.